I may be getting a new grill this year to replace an older/smaller Weber grill that my father in law gave us. Any recommendations on here? Is there a big difference between the Genesis and Spirit models? Not looking to spend a ton of money if possible, which is why I was looking at the Spirit models a bit. Or if there are any suggestions on other makes (Char-Broil, etc.). Thank you in advance.
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i've had nothing but Weber grills for 30 years. no reason to get anything else.
I looked online (Craigs list) and found a used Weber Genesis grill (several actually). This one in particular was three years old and well-maintained. The guy was asking $400 and I got it for $350, including two tanks and a cover.
We've gone through buying $300 grills in the past (Char-Broil and Home Depot specials) and after having one literally catch on fire, I'm very happy with our approach.
Spent a good bit of time cleaning the grates (more than I typically do during our in own cleaning sessions). They came out good enough and even if they didn't you can buy replace grates for like $80 or so.
I have had to replace the cover, but the grill has all original parts and starts first push (sometimes with multiple burners on two clicks)
I'll go days without it being covered, but if there's any weather coming I'll cover it and it gets covered for the winter and uncovered if I use it.
I believe the Weber brand of covers are permeable unless you get the insulated one, and will not keep in a damaging amount of moisture.
This is the model I have:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Weber-Genesis-E-310-3-Burner-Propane-Gas-Grill-in-Black-6511001/202520220
It looks like they replaced this model with their new Genesis II's:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Weber-Genesis-II-E-310-3-Burner-Propane-Gas-Grill-in-Black-with-Built-In-Thermometer-61010001/300159098
Personally, not a fan of not having the doors and storage space in the front as I keep a lot of the cleaning products in there and some other miscellaneous stuff. To each their own.
There have been some reviews out there that the newer Weber grills have gone down in quality. I wouldn’t be able to speak to that, but back in 2010, Weber sold the majority stake of the company to a private equity firm. They also moved a lot of manufacturing to outside the US. With that said, I still think Weber is still the top grill in the market and their customer service is tremendous.
The Summit has hotspots and cold spots (the left side of the grill barely ever gets hot). The Genesis won't heat up past 600F, and takes forever to get there. Both off propane, both have had different parts replaced as I worked through Weber customer support, and neither has had the issues resolved yet.
I had the same two model line grills in the past for over a decade without a problem. Weber's customer support is still there, although now there's a reluctance to send out new parts that wasn't there before, IMO.
That said, not sure who makes the best grill out there these days if it's not Weber. I do regret not trying the Napoleon equivalent over the Genesis, because I had read reviews that indicated Weber had lost a bit off it's fastball before the purchase.
This, a smoker, and a small charcoal hibachi make great additions to the Weber.
I use this flattop all the time.
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This, a smoker, and a small charcoal hibachi make great additions to the Weber.
I use this flattop all the time. Link - ( New Window )
I love mine. sausage peppers and onions - I do that on there a few times a summer. I feel like the guy selling sausage outside the ballpark.
I've done hibachi (a pain in the ass, but works fine for it) and if you need to cook 40 burgers at one time, this is your instrument.
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free to ignore but I'd like to miller the thread and add that the best thing I ever bought for outdoor cooking was the blackstone flattop grill. On sale for $80 last year. I won't cook burgers on the grill anyway and this thing does it all.
This, a smoker, and a small charcoal hibachi make great additions to the Weber.
I use this flattop all the time. Link - ( New Window )
I love mine. sausage peppers and onions - I do that on there a few times a summer. I feel like the guy selling sausage outside the ballpark.
I've done hibachi (a pain in the ass, but works fine for it) and if you need to cook 40 burgers at one time, this is your instrument.
I actually got this one though, not the table top one. How portable is the table top one? I considered it for camping.
Thanks!
And I only went big because we have a lot of cookouts in the summer, and I have a 3-burner Weber, but with this I can legitimately cook 24 burgers and a dozen hot dogs (at least) at one time.
so even if I use it 4 times a summer (for cookouts) the extra space is worth it to me.
The only downside is the propane. It sucks it down. I used mine the first time to tailgate at a Clemson game and I went through 3 of the small Coleman propane containers. Then I just started bringing my regular propane tank and hooking that up. That wouldn't be ideal for camping though. I love the flattop though. You can do burgers, dogs, eggs, sausage, etc.
I used it for the Panthers game tailgate this year and I was cooking the peppers BigBlue in the Keys brought alongside the meats.
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I actually got this one though, not the table top one. How portable is the table top one? I considered it for camping.
The only downside is the propane. It sucks it down. I used mine the first time to tailgate at a Clemson game and I went through 3 of the small Coleman propane containers. Then I just started bringing my regular propane tank and hooking that up. That wouldn't be ideal for camping though. I love the flattop though. You can do burgers, dogs, eggs, sausage, etc.
I used it for the Panthers game tailgate this year and I was cooking the peppers BigBlue in the Keys brought alongside the meats.
great point on the propane, I was wondering about that. I hate switching tanks while cooking too, seems like (and it's probably in my head) the gas gets in the food.
This, a smoker, and a small charcoal hibachi make great additions to the Weber.
I use this flattop all the time. Link - ( New Window )
My youngest son is a picky eater (in a family full of people who will eat anything). Oddly enough, his favorite food was hibachi - and I got sick and tired of paying through the nose for middling Asian food, so I picked up one of these.
It's fantastic - and makes a lot of great food, but it's no substitute for a grill (in particular a charcoal grill). The sausage and peppers, fajitas, and Japanese teppanyaki food it cranks out are awesome, though.
I have a Weber tailgater grill which is good for what it's name says. I use the big tank for it too instead of all the little bottles. One thing I learned was because the hose is 4' long it takes a few minutes for the line to build pressure once opening up the tank valve. If you don't wait 2-3 mins before lighting it won't make a full flame and will never get really hot.
My main propane grill is a Kenmore.(For shame right! Let me explain) My first Kenmore I got when I was 19 in 2002 and lasted until Hurricane Irma 2017. Brand loyalty brought me back to Sears for a new Kenmore last year, yes even though they're going out of business . The outside stainless is cheaper than my old one, but cooks great and with 4 burners has much more space than 3 burner Weber. Best feature is the 1200° sear station - fun and awesome, worth the extra money. Got the grill half off during a Memorial Day sale for $300. I'd be happy with 10 years in this salty air. I guess if money was no issue I'd plop down $800 for a big Weber, but they have issues too even though most have a hard time admitting it :)
Suggestion pertaining to OP: go for the sear station, pass on the side burner.
I don't think Weber offers anything in the Genesis or Summit line without one
I don't think Weber offers anything in the Genesis or Summit line without one
they got rid of the no side-burner option?
My Genesis (10 years old or so) has no side burner - and IIRC that was by choice.
Worst case is you get it with it and don't use it, but it probably justifies to them an increased price tag.
Mine is 4 years old without a side burner. And I specifically chose a model without it.